MISS Shantel Gudo (18), an Advanced level pupil at Dominican Convent High School in Bulawayo won the Outstanding Diplomat Award at the Best Diplomats General Assembly 2023 recently held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Best Diplomats is a New York-based international organisation that focuses on training and crafting future diplomats through diplomatic simulations.
It serves as a platform where young leaders exchange ideas on how to resolve challenging global issues.
The diplomatic simulations enable aspiring future diplomats to grasp and grip the lobbying and critical thinking skills that will enable them to become better diplomats.
Miss Gudo was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at the conference held at Sunway Putra Hotel in the Malaysian capital between 27 and 28 January. She applied through the website after a friend told her about the conference.
More than 50 countries attended the conference. Miss Gudo who is also a member of the Junior Zimpapers Club, said she was quite excited when she got admitted under the programme and subsequently winning the award.
“I could not believe it as young as l am when I got the admission, particularly in light of the gender stereotype among communities about girls’ attributes. I was very happy because it was also my first time to travel outside the country aboard a plane,” she said.
Her family and well-wishers helped to raise funds for her ticket.
Miss Gudo said while growing up she had always wanted to represent Zimbabwe at a global arena including fighting for people’s rights.
She said upon her arrival in Malaysia, they were given topics to focus and debate on.
“Our topic was focusing on the future cause of disarmament with special emphasis on nuclear warfare.
“We argued that nuclear arsenal should be removed because they are a danger to humanity and should they be kept, they might lead to the destruction of the whole world,” said Miss Gudo.
She said she also suggested the world should impose sanctions on countries that are in possession of nuclear weapons.
Miss Gudo said she confidently delivered her speech during the conference.
“The conference helped me to network with a lot of people from diverse backgrounds. As youths, we should always remember that shaping our lives is our own responsibility,” she said.
Miss Gudo, who stays in Montgomery in Bulawayo, said she hopes the award will help inspire other youths to work hard in whatever they do. – The Chronicle
